The Veneto is a region in north-east Italy which stretches from the Dolomites inland to the Adriatic Sea. The coastline in this part of Italy is broken up into large lagoons and waterways, including the large lagoon on which the world-famous city of Venice was built.
Venice is undoubtedly the main tourist attraction for anyone visiting the Veneto, with its unique architecture, fascinating history and fabulous collections of artwork and beautiful artefacts, but there are other equally picturesque and charming towns and cities elsewhere in the Veneto, along with the inland mountain scenery and Lake Garda and the family-friendly sandy beaches south of the lagoons.
Many of the tourist attractions in Venice need no introduction; the Doge's Palace, St Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs are familiar names to many people who have never even visited the city. The best way to get you bearings in this confusing place is to take a water taxi or water bus through the canals, or you could always splash out and hire one of the infamous gondolas.
If you prefer to explore on foot, make sure you have a map as the network of criss-crossing paths in the heart of the old city all look very alike – although many helpfully have signs at each end pointing you either in the direction of the Grand Canal or St Mark's Square which are at opposite sides of the main island.
You could easily spend several days in Venice and not see the whole city, but the Doge's Palace and its attached cathedral are a must, as is climbing the bell tower in the same square to see the city spread out at your feet. If you are visiting in the summer, you might want to take a boat out to the Venice Lido for the day, where the locals go to relax in the sun.
Inland from Venice the pretty medieval town of Verona is worth a visit, it is known as the location, which inspired Shakespeare’s famous play Romeo & Juliet. The town's theatre puts on regular performances of the play in various languages.
Padua, home to an excellent botanical garden, and Vicenza with its many buildings designed by local architect Andrea Palladio are also worth including on your itinerary, while a trip into the Dolomites to enjoy the spectacular natural scenery of the Veneto is a must, in summer or winter.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Veneto? Then below is a selection of Apartments in Veneto and villas in Veneto that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
